Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Sam Officially in State Dem Race, Javier Might Not Run

While lawyer Sam Bregman, a former Albuquerque city councilor, announced Wednesday that he is running for chairman of the New Mexico Democratic Party, incumbent Chairman Javier Gonzales said he hasn’t decided whether he’ll run again.

Gonzales said he’s trying to decide whether he’d rather stay on as party chairman or keep his position as a regent at New Mexico State University. He is slated this year to become chairman of the Board of Regents.

“It would be difficult to continue wearing both hats,” Gonzales said. He said he’ll make his decision soon. The party’s central committee will chose its new chairman in late April.

Gonzales, a former Santa Fe county commissioner who has been chairman since 2009.

In a news release sent to reporters Wednesday, Bregman said, “Enough is enough,” apparently referring to the loss of the governorship and eight legislative races by Democrats in November’s election. “We need to rebuild our party, from the bottom up and regain strong majorities in both the State House and Senate. ... Every day, as State Chairman, I will stand up and speak out for our core Democratic values.”

Bregman began his political career as a precinct chair when he was 18. He’s also worked as a prosecutor with the district attorney in Albuquerque. He was on the City Council from 1995 to 1999. Bregman worked as a deputy state auditor. In 2000 he ran in the Democratic primary for Congress. In 2004, Bregman was vice chairman of the state Democrats.

Letitia Montoya of Santa Fe also has been campaigning for the party position.